Flow#gmseasonofflowThis season’s artwork is created by our guest artists Dear Messy Artist For the past eight years, my life has revolved around art journaling. Convincing others to art journal and...
Art Journal Catalysts
Caylee
Arlyna embraces the messy middle
Interview with Arlyna about art journaling, creative practices, advice, and what to do in a creative rut. Take a peek into the art, and heart of your new favourite artist…
Found Nature Objects by Arlyna So
SlowYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Incorporate what you can find outside, in nature, and bring them inside into your journal. Part 1Part 2 Action Steps Bring your imperfect, messy...
Cathy Nichols follows joy in her journal
Interview with Cathy Nichols about art journaling, creative practices, advice, and what to do in a creative rut. Take a peek into the art, and heart of your new favourite artist…
Flower Fever by Cathy Nichols
SlowYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Create a field of flowers using warm and cool colors. Action Steps Bring your imperfect, messy self, take what you need, and know that more than...
Rory Grimes is all about normalising the messy middle
Interview with art journal artist, Rory Grimes.
Slow Inspir-action
SlowFill up your creative well and find ideas for your next art journal page. Private member galleryInstagram #gmseasonofslow[instagram-feed type="hashtag" hashtag="#gmseasonofslow" showcaption=false...
066 Slow
Slow#gmseasonofslowThis season’s artwork is created by our guest artists Dear Messy Artist We don’t have time. We, as humans, simply don’t have time for everything we want to do, everything we want...
Janet Joehlin makes good art, bad art, ugly art
Interview with art journal artist, Janet Joehlin.
Amanda Trought is encouraged and stretched from creative community
Interview with Amanda Trought about art journaling, creative practices, advice, and what to do in a creative rut. Take a peek into the art, and heart of your new favourite artist…
Textured Reflections by Amanda Trought
ChaptersYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Create a reflective texture-rich art journal page. Bonus Save this file to your computer, print it out, and allow it to accompany you on...
Mou Saha’s art journal is an intimate friend
Interview with Mou Saha about art journaling, creative practices, advice, and what to do in a creative rut. Take a peek into the art, and heart of your new favourite artist…
Breaking Patterns by Mou Saha
ChaptersYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Use your art journal as an intentional self-healing tool. We will focus on spotting some of our unproductive thought patterns and creating...
Flo untangles her heart through art journaling
Interview with art journal artist, Flo (@Flo_HereThere).
Chapters Inspir-action
ChaptersFill up your creative well and find ideas for your next art journal page. Private member galleryInstagram #gmseasonofchapters[instagram-feed type="hashtag" hashtag="#gmseasonofchapters"...
065 Chapters
Chapters#gmseasonofchaptersThis season’s artwork is created by our guest artists Dear Messy Artist Recently, I was lying on a stretcher in the ER. I have never been in that much pain. It came on...
Shilpa Nagaonkar forgets everything when she makes art and her hands are messy with paint
Interview with art journal artist, Shilpa Nagaonkar.
Felicitas Mayer explores creative freedom, calms her mind and grounds herself with art journaling
Interview with Felicitas Mayer about art journaling, creative practices, advice, and what to do in a creative rut. Take a peek into the art, and heart of your new favourite artist…
Gather, Spark, Create by Felicitas Mayer
IdeasYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Use your old paper scraps and other crafty left-overs to find new creative ideas for art journaling. Action Steps create something based on this...
Kiala Givehand stays inspired, intentional, and in alignment through creative community
Interview with Kiala Givehand about art journaling, creative practices, advice, and what to do in a creative rut. Take a peek into the art, and heart of your new favourite artist…
Movable Idea Catchers by Kiala Givehand
IdeasYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Create an interactive way to explore and discover the ideas that live inside you. Part 1Bonus Save this file to your computer, print it out, and...
Mandy expects, accepts, and embraces imperfections in art
Interview with art journal artist, Mandy “MediaMixerArt”.
30 Journal Ideas
Ideas Write your favourite quote ever. Your favourite song lyrics. A sentence from the last book you read. What do you need today? What does life look like right now? What are some of your best...
30 Art Ideas
Ideas Do your go-to technique. Try out a brand new technique.Use your most recently purchased supplies. Use your oldest supplies. Use only one medium. Use as many mediums as you can. Use your...
Ideas Inspir-action
IdeasFill up your creative well and find ideas for your next art journal page. Private member galleryInstagram #gmseasonofideas[instagram-feed type="hashtag" hashtag="#gmseasonofideas"...
064 Ideas
Ideas#gmseasonofideasThis season’s artwork is created by our guest artists Dear Messy Artist Being a creative human means having countless ideas. Countless great ideas and countless just plain bad...
The best books for art journalers
Books are awesome. I am a massive book nerd. My interior design style is “books and plants”. My love for books is part of the reason I love art journaling – I get to create my own library of art. I get to fill my bookshelves with the tangible containers of my own...
Tanya Hardy-Dobney balances the endless to-do lists of her crazy life with art
Interview with art journal artist, Tanya Hardy-Dobney.
20 of the best books on journaling
I've been art journaling for eight years, but it was only two years ago that I've fallen for written journaling. And man, have I fallen hard. My journaling journey For a long time, art journaling helped me say everything that I couldn't say with words. As Georgia...
Start with Gratitude with Tiare Smith
Interview with Tiare Smith about art journaling, creative practices, advice, and what to do in a creative rut. Take a peek into the art, and heart of your new favourite artist…
From Scrapbook to Sketchbook by Tiare Smith
EncouragementYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Let this scrapbook sketch inspire your creativity. Use it as a guide to create in your sketch book or art journal. Action Steps...
52 journal cover and first page ideas
The main thing that stopped me from keeping a journal in the past was fear of the blank page. Specifically, fear of the very first blank page. My initial way of dealing that fear was to simply keep the first page blank, turn the page, and make the art. It’s not a bad...
Jana Clinard Harris finds community invaluable to her survival as a creative person
Interview with Jana Clinard Harris about art journaling, creative practices, advice, and what to do in a creative rut. Take a peek into the art, and heart of your new favourite artist…
Your World by Jana Clinard Harris
EncouragementYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Create a journal that shows what your ideal world looks like. This is a place you wish you could live in all the time. It should...
How to organise ephemera for MORE creating and less hoarding
Ephemera is my number one supply ever, and if I only had one supply I could take on an island, it'd be paper. I am an exceptionally organised human, but I am also a creative and ephemera organisation lends itself to somewhere in the middle of those two things. The...
Eva Donges puts herself on the page.
Interview with art journal artist, Eva Donges.
Encouragement Inspir-action
EncouragementFill up your creative well and find ideas for your next art journal page. Private member galleryInstagram #gmseasonofencouragement[instagram-feed type="hashtag"...
063 Encouragement
Encouragement#gmseasonofencouragementThis season’s artwork is created by our guest artists Dear Messy Artist If you’ve ever played an online role-playing game, you’ll know all about support...
Art Books
ResourceArt BooksThe Best Books for Art JournalersBooks are awesome I am a massive book nerd. My interior design style is “books and plants”. My love for books is part of the reason I love art journaling - I get to create my own library of art. I get to fill my...
Journaling Books
ResourceJournaling Books21 books on written journalingJackee Holder The Science and Wisdom of Writing and journalingIra Progoff The basic text and guide for using the Intensive Journal processStephanie Dowrick The Art and Heart of ReflectionLucia Capacchione The Art...
How to embrace a new season in your art
Every month at Get Messy, we start a new season. Get Messy Seasons are a focused exploration of creating according to a theme. Filled with tutorials, prompts, and catalysts for you to learn and love. In the same way that we go through seasons of our life, we also go...
Brooke Gorrell-Beaudoin makes the heaviness of the real world feel a little bit lighter through art journaling
Interview with art journal artist, Brooke Gorrell-Beaudoin.
e bond finds a safe space where anything is allowed in her sketchbook
Interview with e bond about art journaling, creative practices, advice, and what to do in a creative rut. Take a peek into the art, and heart of your new favourite artist…
Making Moveable Collages by e bond
HeartYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Explore how to make moveable collages in your art journal. Action Steps Bring your imperfect, messy self, take what you need, and know that more...
Art journaling is a Alyssa Griese’s non-judgemental playground
Interview with Alyssa Griese about art journaling, creative practices, advice, and what to do in a creative rut. Take a peek into the art, and heart of your new favourite artist…
Lovingly Stitched by Alyssa Griese
HeartYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Stitch a love note or kind word to yourself or to someone you love. Action Steps Bring your imperfect, messy self, take what you need, and know...
Yay! Your Open Weekend Ahead…
Yay, ✨ We’re proud of you. We are celebrating that you have said YES to art. Want to make the most of your weekend at Get Messy?Your turn for action. Just three things:Go to the Dashboard Modeled off the real Get Messy member...
Open Weekend
Open DashboardWelcome, , you opalescent tree sharkHow does this work? Welcome to Get Messy's Open Weekend! The Open Weekend has now passed, but we're leaving it open for members. You will be able to navigate a lot of the site, but...
Wendy McGowen creates daily
Interview with art journal artist, Wendy McGowen.
Messy Recipes: The Overthinker’s Guide to Making Art
Workshop Replay Messy Recipes: The Overthinker's Guide to Making ArtThe workshop is for the perfectionist who chooses mess instead. It’s the perfect, practical antidote to overthinking. I’m a recovering perfectionist myself. Embracing the mess is a...
Heart Inspir-action
HeartFill up your creative well and find ideas for your next art journal page. Private member galleryInstagram #gmseasonofheart[instagram-feed type="hashtag" hashtag="#gmseasonofheart"...
062 Heart
Heart#gmseasonofheartThis season’s artwork is created by our guest artists Dear Messy Artist Every time that you art journal, you are releasing your heart onto the page. Sometimes it looks weird,...
Karen Price finds freedom to play in her art journal
Interview with art journal artist, Karen Price.
Day 31 Celebration
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Celebrate your creative month! Write a list of small achievements, add confetti,...
Day 30 Awe
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Grab a sheet of paper and collage anything onto it that reminds you of the things...
Day 29 Serenity
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Make your practice today meditative. Some ideas: light a candle, drink some fruit...
Day 28 Self
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create a 1 page zine with the theme of your current self. My best advice for...
Day 27 Mindfulness
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Use a monochromatic color palette to help bring your mind into a calm and present...
Day 26 Failure
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Go back to your unfinished or "failed" pages and rework them. Cover them up, pain...
Day 25 Bloom
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Let it bloom: cultivate your creativity through an expressive floral zine. Don't...
Day 24 Magic
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Take a moment to look around you and find the magic in your surroundings. This...
Day 23 Contrast
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Explore contrast through value, complementary colors, and paradoxical subject...
Day 22 Love
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Use gesso, black paint, a pencil, watercolors, and a vintage image to express the...
Day 21 Words
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Add journaling to your art journal page. What are you thinking? How are you...
Day 20 Nature
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Take your supplies outside and create inspired by the world around you! Follow the...
Day 19 Less
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Using a base of neutral collage, add a single block of color to create impactful...
Day 18 Documenting
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:How do you document your days? What are you learning about yourself as each day...
Roben-Marie Smith brings beauty into the world through art journaling
Artist SpotlightWhat is art journaling to you? As far back as I can remember, I have been a creative person. Art journaling is a part of who I am, and like I was as a child, I still find comfort and personal satisfaction in creating. Journaling is my...
Day 17 Yes
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:What was the last creative impulse you felt? Was it to try a new medium? Attempt a...
Color & Paper Mixing by Roben-Marie Smith
MessYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Gather papers by color and collage them into your sketchbook for project inspiration. Bonus Save this file to your computer, print it out, and...
Day 16 Belonging
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:"Belonging is being your authentic self and knowing that no matter what happens,...
Day 15 Flow
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create with as few distractions as possible to achieve a State of Flow. Just....
Day 13 Home
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create a collage house with images filled with the comforts of home. Creating art...
Day 12 Habit
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create a habit of seeing possibilities for using recycled materials in your art...
Day 11 Imperfection
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Make a list of five ways to practice and embrace imperfection in your art. If you...
Melanie Theriault escapes and processes her reality through art journaling
Artist SpotlightWhat is art journaling to you? Art journaling is a healing liminal space that allows me to both escape my reality as well as process it. It is my self care at its best. Art journaling feels like home, it feels like personal growth, it...
Day 10 Connection
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Create a page that connects you to your art process. You can do this by including...
Grungy Papers by Melanie Theriault
MessYour challenge, should you choose to accept it: Create grungy tissue papers with a gel plate and acrylic paints to use as a quick background. Action Steps Bring your imperfect, messy self, take...
Day 09 Spark
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Begin to play with a handful of your favorite or forgotten supplies on separate...
Day 08 Mess
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:MESS: Embrace the big beautiful messiness of life! Take old journal or diary pages...
Zine Hangout
Zine Hangout Replay Hosted by Wendy Solganik @willa.wanders and Debbie Bamberger @debbiebamberger. This is a monthly Zoom hangout that is open to all Get Messy members.Dr. Debbie Bamberger is a nurse practitioner in Berkeley, California, providing sexual and...
Day 06 Freedom
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Give yourself the freedom to create the NON-perfect handwriting by writing the...
Day 05 Courage
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:What does COURAGE mean to you? Create an art journal spread with your take on...
Day 04 Adventure
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Get outside to gather bits and pieces of nature and create a unique fabric using...
Day 07 Cultivation
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Cultivate your creative voice through experimentation. Create a grid, use limited...
Meghan Deinhard allows her inspiration to express itself in little books
Interview with art journal artist, Meghan Deinhard.
Day 03 Happy
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Carefree fun. Create with the joyfulness of a child. Don't take your artwork too...
Mess Inspir-action
MessFill up your creative well and find ideas for your next art journal page. Private member galleryInstagram #gmseasonofmess[instagram-feed type="hashtag" hashtag="#gmseasonofmess" showcaption=false...
Day 02 Showing up
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May:Show up in your journal today, in the easiest way possible. Use a bullet point...
52 Ideas for Starting a New Art Journal
The main thing that stopped me from keeping a journal in the past was fear of the blank page. Specifically, fear of the very first blank page. My initial way of dealing that fear was to simply keep the first page blank, turn the page, and make the art. It's not a bad...
061 Mess
Mess#gmseasonofmessThis season’s artwork is created by our guest artists Dear Messy Artist As the host of Get Messy, it’s assumed that I love messy creating, that I’m easy-going, and that letting go...
Day 01 Starting
Remember: Bring your messy self, take what you need (no such thing as being behind), and remember that more than zero is enough. Here's the prompt for today's Messy May: Start. Either by opening your journal to a new page or by binding a journal just...
Messy May 2022
Welcome to Messy May 2022, you rainbow-infused space unicorn Here are three ways to make the most of...
How to bind a three hole pamphlet stitch
This is a lesson from Basic Bookbinding. Whatever your inner artist needs to create, build yourself the perfect handbound book with this course to capture all of your beautiful art and precious words. In Basic Bookbinding, you will learn how to bind four different...
MM Inspir-action
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MM Downloads
Bonuses will be sent by email on the day, and they will be saved here in the classroom at the end of the month.
MM Prompts
Hosted by @cayleegrey Start. Either by opening your journal to a new page or by binding a journal just for Messy May. Be welcomed into the challenge, and welcome your fellow creatives.Hosted by Caylee @cayleegrey Show up in your journal today, in the easiest way...
MM Artists
@cayleegrey Caylee Grey is a South African artist who fills her journals with loads of mediocre art. Imperfect, heart-led, gloriously mediocre art. Caylee's the Fairy Artmother of Get Messy Art, the kindest art journaling community on the internet, and author of the...






























































































